Where can you purchase pysanka-making supplies?

Answer 1

In general, pysanka-making supplies are inexpensive compared to those required for many other Arts and Crafts. Pysanka supplies are a mixed lot -- a few are very specialized items that need to be ordered from specific pysanka supply shops, while others can be purchased in most neighborhood shops.

GENERAL ITEMS:

Eggs: You can pick up a carton from the grocery store, but might be better off buying from a farmer's market or natural food store. Commercial eggs tend to be handled a lot by machinery, and this can damage the surface of the egg.

Candles: Any candles can be used, but short tapers (like those sold as emergency candles) are usually the best.....and cheapest. They can usually be found in dollar or discount stores.

Candle holders: Any stable one will do, but it will get lots of dark wax on it, so don't use a nice one. I find that you can buy these quite cheaply at the dollar or local discount store.

Paper towels: Any will do, but those without a noticeable grain are a bit better. Many recommend Viva towels, as they can be reused.

Spoons: Needed for dyeing. You can use your kitchen spoons, but it's nice to have a few cheap tablespoons around from a dollar store or garage sale.

Jars: Old peanut butter or jelly jars that hold at least two cups of fluid are needed. You can also purchase Gladware-style round quart containers that work quite well.

SPECIALTY ITEMS: These can be purchased from the pysanka supply retailers listed below (links at bottom of page as well)

Stylus: Also called a kistka or pysachok, used for writing with wax on the egg. These can be electric or old-fashioned "candle-powered."

Dyes: Aniline (chemical) dyes are usually used, and can be purchased from the retailers below in small packets, ready to mix. UGS, Patty Wisczuk, Wax Art Supply and Egg-Cessories all produce their own lines of dyes, and may have different colors available.

Beeswax: Cakes, sheets and "strings" of beeswax are available for all the pysanka supply retailers, and unbleached beeswax can be purchased in farmers' markets and craft shops. For those with electric styluses, darkened wax is preferred.

HELPUL ITEMS: There are many items that are helpful in making pysanky, but not absolutely necessary for their production. Templates, egg blowers, craft lathes and the like can be purchased from most pysanka specialty shops. Patty of Pysanky Showcase sells a wonderful collection of dyes as well as ingenious egg-dipper devices. The Polish Art Center in Hamtramck carries a wonderful selection of pysanka books as well as other pysanka supplies.

Useful suppliers:

All Things Ukrainian

Polish Art Center

Pysanky Showcase

Wax Art Supply

Ukrainian Eggcessories

Ukrainian Gifts Shop

Answer 2

The ancient Ukrainians who first created pysanky made all their own tools and supplies from the things around them. A kistka, which is the name for the tool used to apply wax, was a small wooden rod about the width of a pencil and a little shorter, with a hole drilled at the end. Inside the hole they placed a small metal cone, and secured it with wire or horsehair. The dyes they used were made from local plants. Beeswax came from the hives of local beekeepers, and eggs from the chickens everyone kept.

In general, pysanka supplies are not expensive compared to other kinds of art supplies. The Ukrainian Gift Shop sells supplies for a very reasonable price, and is a good place to start looking. A basic starter kit consists of a kistka (the tool to apply wax), beeswax, and some dyes. Kistky cost around $5 each for a modern one and $2.50 for a traditional one (start with a medium tip). Dyes run around $1 each, and beeswax a bit more than that. You will usually save money if you buy a starter kit compared to buying the dyes and tools separately.

It is not always easy to find pysanky supplies, because most well-known chain stores do not carry them. However, you can find wonderful supplies online if you do a search for "pysanky supplies."